Apparatus for developing motion-picture films



Mar'ch 25 1924.

V. DE YBARRONDO APPARArs Fon DEVELOPING Mo'rIoNPIcTURE FILMS Wwe/@for Mmh 25 1924. k 1,487,729`

V. DE YBARRONDO APPARATUS FOR DEVELOPING MOTION PICTURE FILMS Filed July 31, 1920 2 sham-sheet 2 Patented Mar. 25, 1924.

UNITED srATEsjPATENT oFFlcE.

vINCmT nl YBABRONDO, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

APPARATUS FOR DEVELOPING MOTION-PICTURE FILMS.

Application led July 31, 1920. Serial No. 400,468.

To all wlwm t may concern: p

Be it known that I, VINCENT DE YBAR- RoNDo, a citizen of the United States, residing at Los Angeles, county of Los Angeles, and State of California, have invented a new and useful Apparatus for Developing Motion-Picture Films, of which the followin is a specification.

y invention relates to the art of producing motion pictures and an object of the invention is to provide an apparatus for developing, washing, fixing and drying these lms.

The invention resides in the novel combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter described or shown in the drawings.

Further objects and advantages will be made evident hereinafter.

Referring to the drawings which are for illustrative purposes only,

Fig. l is a front elevation of a, preferred form of my invention.

Fig. 2 is a section taken as indicated by the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a view through the center of one of the developing boxes.

Fig. 4 is a section through a. dryer box.

Fi 5 is a rear view showing the means for riving the various sprockets.

Fig. 6 is a-view of a sprocket with the film in place thereon. A

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of tooth in place in a film. l

Fig. 8 is a view of an adjusting crank.

In the form of my invention shown in these drawings, I provide a pluralit of S0- lution tanks 11, 12 and 13, three-on y being shown but any multiple of this number being provided as desired. These tanks are each connected through a. pipe 14 controlled by a valve 15 with a manifold 16 which is con nected through pipes 17 controlled by valves 18 with a ,plurality of developing boxes 19, 20, 21 and22. A pipe 90, having a valve 91 therein, connects into the manifold 16 for the purpose of introducing washout water as desired, and drains 93 are provided through which the contents of the developing boxes may be drained off by opening valves 94.

a sprocket Altho I have shown `five boxes, I may inA practice `use more than this number and in fact in the standard development of the film, I would in most cases prefer to use more than this number. vThe boxes. 19, 20, 21 and 22 may be used for containing, de` veloping, washing ory fixing solutions, the

box 23 being used as a dryer. The boxes 19, 20, 21 and 22 are each provided with an opening 30 closed by a ruby glass member through which the solution may be viewed'. The film to be developed, shown at 31, enters the box 19 from a reel, not shown, and passes over sprockets 32, 33and 34 being held in loops by sprockets 35 and 36 which hang upon the film which is'll maintained tight by means of weights 37 and 38. The sprockets 32, 33 and 34 are connected together and are also connected with the sprockets in the other boxes 20, 2l, 22 and 23 by means of belts 39 shown in Fig. 5, the wholesystem of sprockets either being turned by hand or through a suitable motor. The film passes fromthe first box 19 through a tube 40 over a ruby` light 41 and by a lens system 42 which has a ruby eye piece through which the film 3l may be viewed. The film can thus be inspected without exposing same.

In practice I use a plurality of film holders 44 and develop two or more films simultaneously, there being a plurality of sprockets 32 all mounted on the same shaft and a similar plurality of sprockets 33, 34, 35 and 36. These .sprockets are constructed as shown in F ig: 6, the teeth 50 being off set as shown so that a lm may pass over the sprocket with the emulsion side down without contacting with the support 51 of the sprocket. The purpose of the sight box formed by the tube 40, the lamp 41 and the lens system 42 is to enable the operator to. examine the film after it passes through the first developing tank 19 and t0 strengthen or weaken the developer in the second tank to suit the amount of development in the first tank 19, a second sight box being provided after it leaves the second tank 20 so that the operator can judge the result of thetwo developments. A sufficient number of developing tanks are provided to allow for a perfect control of the system, the film then being washed, fixed and washed again before being passed into the box 23 which forms the dryer. Before passing into this box, the film passes under a wheel 70 which tends to remove any surplus moisture therefrom, the film then assing through the dryer 23 which is provi ed with means 100 for delivering a current of dry air to the interior thereof, the finished film being wound upon a vnumber of reels 81.

Each of the sprockets 32 and 34 is secured solidly on a shaft 80 shown in Fig. 8-

which passes through the side 88 of its box. double pulley 82 turns freely on the shat receiving a driving belt 39 and driving second belt 39. A friction plate 83 is d on the shaft 80 being free to slide y thereon under the infiuence of a ring Se which surrounds the shaft SG but being prevented from turning therein by 3 i ey 85. crank and handle 86 is rigidly iastened to the outer end of the shaft 80. Normally the shaft 8O is driven troni the pulley 82 through the friction plate S3. T he lengtn oi: time the film remains in any tank depends upon the spes:

il oi' the iilm and the length of the loop or loops in that tank. rlhe ihn is driven by a motor Sil through the belts 39, this motor operating at a oonsta-nt speed so that the fihn moves at a constant speed.

It novv the operator who is watching the development of the film through the lens system #l2 decides that it needs a longer or shorter time in any tank, he lengthens or shortens the loops in thatvtank by turning one or more of the handles 86. For example, it he Wishes to lengthen the time in the box 19, he feeds more iilm into that box by turning the handle connected with the sprocket 32 of that box. It he Wishes to shorten the time he holds that sprocket or'turns it back or he can Wind film out o the tank by turning the sprocket 34. In any case the plates 83 slip allowing the operator to adjust the film in any box While the remainder of the film is fed at its predetermined speed. The operator can thus Watch the film during its devellpment and'varying this development at W1 Y.

I claim as my invention:

1. An apparatus for developing photographic film comprising a. box or containing a develo ing solution, a sprocket in each end of said x over which said film passes,

means adapted to ride on the loops of film between said sprockets :for holding saidt film below the surface of said solution, means forli driving said sprockets at a constant speed, and means by which either sprocket may be turned by hand at a. faster or slower speed without interfering in any way with t e other sprocket.

2. An apparatus for developing photographic film comprising a box for containing a develo ing solution, a sprocket in each end of said ox over which said film passes, means bywhich an operator can view said film Without exposing same as it leaves said box, means adapted to ride on the loops of film between said sprockets for holding said film below the surace o said solution, means for driving said sprockets at a constant speed, and means by which either sprocketmay be turned by hand at a faster or slower speed Without interfering in any Way with the other s )rocket 3. An apparatus ior developing photographic film comprising a series of boxes I'or containing the chemical solutions necessary to edect development, means by which the film may be caused to form a series ot loops through said boxes, means for driving said film at a constant speed, and means by which an operator can change the length of any loop While the tilm is in motion.

4. An apparatus for developing photographic film comprising a series of boxes or containing the chemical solutions necessary to effect development, means by which the film may be caused to form a. series of loops through said boxes, means by which an operator can view said film at different points during development Without exposing the film, means for driving said film at a constant speed, and means by which an operator can change the length of any loop while the film is in motion.

5. In a motion picture developing apparatus a sprocket over which the fi m 1s looped, a shaft on which said sprocket is secured, a pulley turnin freely on said shaft, a belt for driving said ulley at a constant s ed, means for manna ly turning said shaft, and a s rin operated friction clutch by which sai pu ey frictionally drives said shaft.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand at Los Angeles, California, this 24th day of Jul 1920.

VINC NT Dn YBARRONDO. 

